A former DuPage County Deputy Sheriff is in custody today accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with a female prisoner.
DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick announced yesterday that bond has been set for a 52-year-old Elgin man charged with five counts of Custodial Sexual Misconduct and five counts of Official Misconduct, all Class 3 Felonies. Judge Michael Reidy set bond at $300,000 with 10% to apply.
The accused, who served as a DuPage County deputy sheriff assigned to the DuPage County Jail, was terminated from his position on May 15, 2023. It is alleged that on at least two occasions, beginning on March 13, 2023, through April 26, 2023, he and the prisoner engaged in sexual intercourse and other sexual acts in the prisoner’s cell as well as a shower/bathroom area. It is further alleged that he had arranged for $300 to be put on the prisoner’s commissary account.
On May 10, 2023, after receiving information regarding these allegations, the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office immediately contacted the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, who opened an investigation into the matter.
Five days later, on May 15, 2023, the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office approved charges against Hardy. Following the charges, Judge Brian Telander issued a $500,000 with 10% to apply arrest warrant for Hardy. He was taken into custody the same day from his home without incident.
“It is alleged that a deputy sheriff assigned to corrections, who obviously held a position of authority over his victim, used that position to engage in sexual activities with a prisoner,” Berlin said. “This alleged betrayal of the public trust will not be tolerated and will be met with the full force and effect of the law. I would like to emphasize that the allegations against [the accused] are in no way indicative of the outstanding work done by Corrections Bureau employees day in and day out. I commend the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office for immediately bringing this matter to our attention for an independent investigation. Because of their efforts, we are able to prepare a very strong case against Mr. Hardy. I also thank Assistant State’s Attorney Helen Kapas and the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office’s Investigations Division for their efforts on this case.”
“The DuPage County Sheriff’s Office has zero tolerance for this type of behavior,” Mendrick said. “We will take immediate action against any employee who does not maintain the highest standards of professional conduct. I am grateful to DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his Office for their willingness to independently review and investigate any allegations of misconduct against Sheriff’s Office employees, thus ensuring that we maintain complete transparency and full accountability to the residents of DuPage County.”
Hardy’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 12, 2023, for arraignment in front of Judge Reidy.
